A NUMBER of churches in Hereford are giving away knitted angels this Christmas to spread the message of the season.

Church volunteers in West Hereford have knitted 1,100 angels to show the importance of angels as messengers of Jesus' birth.

The idea came from a member of the Mothers' Union at St Nicholas Church in Barton Road.

There is a national project where angels are left around town inviting members of the public to pick them up.

In Hereford the angels will be given to people who attend Christmas services at All Saints in the centre of the city, St Nicholas, Holy Trinity on Whitecross Road and St Michael’s in Breinton.

Anne Newman, who worships at St Nicholas church and is the branch leader of the church's Mothers' Union, said: "The angels brought the message of Jesus to Mary, to the shepherds, to Joseph and everybody else so angels are a messenger. If we can't use angels as messengers at Christmas we might just as well go home and say goodbye Christmas."

The angels were also placed on a tree during the Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints.

Anne added: "You knit a jumper and you know that jumper is going to go to your grandson, your son, your daughter your wife, whoever and so you knit with a purpose.

"And I think these angels have also been knitted with a purpose. Whether people know it or not it is all about the love of God and the love of people."

If you would like to find out what your local church is doing this year, go to: www.achurchnearyou.com #FollowTheStar #xmasangels